The Go! Team

A shadow of fear loomed over tonight's gig, anticipatory concern clawing in from a fair few many angles. Following an ill-fated line of failed festival appearances over the summer, plagued by bad sound and technical set up, there were whispers that The Team couldn't cut it live. The power was most definitely not on and the energy which is found on their Debut album, 'Lightning, Panther, Dash' seemed to be something that couldn't be brought to the forefront live. For an album so intoxicatingly infectious to make even the most emo of us get up and do our thing on the dance floor, tonight's Friday night party in central London needed to deliver just that.

A whole new breed of audience was in the Astoria tonight, what with the re-birth of the album and new found fame found in being a Mercury Music Prize nomination. Following a shaky start during 'Panther Dash', things were a little worrying, but the energy finally picked up and everything fitted together, even creating a buzz with some new material. A rammed dance floor and much beer-a-swigged, the crowd were in good spirits and The Team finally sounded how they should on stage, delivering a quick fire round of fun.

Playground anthems and singsong rhyme are The Go! Team's forte, hop-scotching to lyrics and beats layered together to climactic pop power. 'Huddle Formation' heralds the group chant of "Go Team" to the backdrop supplied by a group of dancers-come-singers-come-cheerleaders. Dressed head to toe in sports gear, star jumping to their own personal fitness regime, the crowd follows suite and by 'Junior Kickstart' the double-drum kit thumping thrash creates pandemonium in the pit. New single 'Bottle Rocket' and 'Ladyflash' in the encore are the highlights, during which I receive a text message with the words "who doesn't love the Go! Team?" They may not have won the Mercury Music Prize, but that doesn't matter tonight. The Go! Team have delivered enough energy tonight to convince any doubters in the audience that they can still deliver it live.

Panther Dash

Get it together

Just won't be defeated

Ice Storm

Power is on

Huddle Formation

Hold yr terror close

We listen everyday

Junior kickstart

Doing it right

Bottle rocket

Titanic Vandalism

Encore

Everyone's a VIP

Ladyflash